News of Conor
McGregor’s plea deal on Thursday makes him eligible to fight
again, and also without travel restrictions. That news was not lost
on McGregor’s lightweight rival, Khabib
Nurmagomedov, who promptly called for a title fight against the
former divisional champion.

The two have a storied history together, with McGregor’s April
arrest stemming from an assault allegedly intended for Nurmagomedov
himself after the undefeated Dagestani’s altercation with
McGregor’s teammate Artem Lobov
days earlier.

With McGregor no longer facing jail time or felony charges,
Nurmagomedov was quick to issue an official challenge:

"Glad that he stayed out of jail, because I wouldn’t be able to
punish him in that case,” Nurmagomedov told MMA Junkie on Thursday. “Now he needs to
bring his Irish team to MSG in November and finish our
business."

Both “The Eagle” and “The Notorious” won their lightweight belts in
New York City, with McGregor taking the title from Eddie
Alvarez at Madison Square Garden back in 2016 and Nurmagomedov
defeating Al Iaquinta
for the strap in Brooklyn at UFC 223 in April.

McGregor’s fighting career was unceremoniously put on hold
following his arrest, and the Irishman hasn’t competed in MMA since
the Alvarez fight two years ago. “The Notorious” has been living
the high life after cashing out in a big money boxing bout against
legend Floyd
Mayweather Jr. last summer, but hasn’t fought in any capacity
since.

UFC 229, which is set to take place on Oct. 6, has been rumored to
be headlined by a McGregor vs. Nurmagomedov lightweight title
fight, but it’s still too early for any official announcement given
McGregor’s plea deal, which was accepted on Thursday.